New rules for gay men who want to donate blood will likely go into effect at blood donation centers by the end of the summer, but some say the change in guidelines don’t go far enough.

The Food and Drug Administration revised its guidelines in May to allow more gay men to donate, but there are still limitations.

Finn Brigham said he’s disenchanted when it comes to blood donations. He's unable to give due to restrictions barring certain gay men from donating.

"It's really important that we try to keep our community safe," Brigham said. When his mother was diagnosed with leukemia, he said she needed dozens of blood transfusions.

“Each time she did it and I watched that, I thought, 'I can't donate blood for her,'” Brigham said.

The United States Food and Drug Food Administration restricted men who have sex with men from donating blood unless they haven’t had sex with other men for three months. Now, anyone with no new sexual partners within three months can donate, ending the identity-based restrictions.

“I was so relieved. This is something that's bothered me and many people in my community for decades,” Brigham said. But Brigham still has to wait a little longer, at least until the end of summer.

Both the New York Blood Center and the American Red Cross said they need time to update their systems and provide training to workers and volunteers on their new guidelines.

“In the New York City area, we have to collect about 2,000 units of blood every single day to supply the blood that's needed by over 200 hospitals in our area,” said Chelsey Smith, who is with the New York Blood Center.

Smith said they used Pride as an opportunity for outreach to prepare people for the updates — and it’s needed. The New York Blood Center said it only has about a three-day blood supply.

City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan said since the pandemic, blood donations have not reached pre-pandemic levels, and it might take a strategic approach to reach the gay community.

“We have to normalize this for all New Yorkers, for all people that are eligible. They should donate, because it really can save a life,” Vasan said.

Brigham said he’ll be first in line to donate blood when the centers update their systems, to help save a life, like many did in helping to save his mom’s.

"I’m going to try first at the Red Cross in the fall and have my first blood donation. I'm looking forward to it," Brigham said. "I know it can be lifesaving. I want to do it. I've wanted to do it for many years and have not been able to."